RAIN DANCE

Stephen Petronio remains the cool cat in town, creating signature choreography that is elegant, yet edgy, innovative, and just plain fun to watch. Tonight, Petronio and his company, in celebration of their 25th anniversary season, join the Celebrate Brooklyn fest with the return of I Drink the Air Before Me, which premiered at the Joyce Theater in April. Twelve dancers (including the man himself) explore the unpredictable nature of emotional and atmospheric storms, with an emphasis on the transient power behind them. Petronio is known for not skimping on the fixings when it comes to doing a work proper—for this piece, renowned artist Cindy Sherman created a costume just for him—and, in the past, his music has come from collaborations with Fischerspooner, Lou Reed, and Rufus Wainwright. This time around, he's brought in young composer Nico Muhly for an original score.
Thu., July 23, 8 p.m., 2009